Saffery moves to Edinburgh

Saffery, the accounting, audit, and tax advisory firm has signed a lease to move its team in Edinburgh to new premises at 9 Haymarket Square later this year.

The new office will provide more desk and collaboration space, accommodating Saffery’s growing Edinburgh-based team comprising almost 70 people, while also being aligned with the firm’s agile working policy.

Part of the flagship mixed-use development in the heart of Edinburgh’s west end, 9 Haymarket Square is designed to high environmental and energy efficiency specifications. Rated ‘Excellent’ by BREEAM with an EPC grade A, the building has roof-mounted solar panels as well as intelligent lighting and ventilations systems.

Along with the move, the firm also announced that Sean McGinness, Saffery’s head of VAT and National tax partner, who played a leading role in the search for the new premises, has been appointed head of office for Edinburgh.

McGuiness is taking on the role following seven successful years under Elaine McInroy’s leadership.

“This is a very exciting and busy time for the Edinburgh team. The move to our new premises at Haymarket Square will place us right at the heart of the city’s thriving business district, in one of its most prestigious office developments, alongside some of the most well-known and successful organisations operating in Edinburgh or anywhere,” he said.

“Our team has grown 30% over the past three years in terms of both headcount and turnover. It’s a testament to the strength of our well-established private client and landed estates practice, along with significant growth in the corporate and not-for-profit teams across audit, accounting, and tax.

In addition, in the firm’s audit team, Harry Kendall has been promoted from senior manager to director, while Katie Shaw has been promoted to Assistant Manager, further strengthening the audit and corporate advisory offering across Scotland.

Rebranding heritage

Saffery, formerly Saffery Champness, recently under went a rebrand.

Established in 1855, the firm (at the end of 2023) rebranded to more closely align with modern expectations and its partnership with Nexia International. Now simply called “Saffery,” the rebrand involved extensive planning and included over 600 workstreams, overseen by Richard Crook, to revamp everything from logos to digital platforms.

The firm sought extensive client feedback, ensuring the new identity resonated with both clients and the firm’s innovative legacy. This rebranding aimed not only to refresh its look but also to enhance its market presence and appeal to potential talent.